Progressive Lawmakers Want To Make GOP 'Put Up Or Shut Up' On Bush Tax Cuts

[Joanne98]

A coalition of progressive lawmakers, labor unions, and soon-to-be-former members of Congress are demanding that the Democratic Party hold an up or down vote on a tax cut package that extends rates for the middle class while letting those for the wealthy expire.

In an interview with the Huffington Post on Monday, Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio), a freshmen member of Congress who was defeated in her re-election bid, said the time had come to "draw a line in the sand" with respect to the Bush tax cuts.

One vote was needed, said the Ohio Democrat, who would, ostensibly, get to cast that vote before she leaves office. The House should use its current majority to pass permanent relief to the middle class while letting the rates for income over $250,000-a-year go back to pre-Bush levels. That would pass the burden to the Senate, at which point Republicans will have to "put up or shut up."

"You were talking about fiscal responsibility," said Kilroy. "The fiscally responsible thing to do is to allow these tax cuts for the top earners to expire... I think we have to, as Democrats fight for policies that affect and improve the lives of the vast majority of people in this country. That is to give the working class people these tax breaks. But also, the Democratic Party has to establish itself as being fiscally responsible and to challenge the republicans. They campaigned on that. They need to work with the Democrats in Congress and with the White House to be fiscally responsible and let those tax breaks expire."

"I think the path forward legislatively is for the House to essentially draw a line in the sand," she added. "Then challenge the Senate to do the same."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/15/bush-tax-cuts-gop-_n_783826.html

[coti]

1. Absolutely, no effing question. CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN RIGHT F*CKING NOW!!!

I'm serious. Do it.

[Zenlitened]

2. K&R. Shoulda been done a year ago. - n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Perhaps those who were defeated wouldn't be in that position had the party the balls

to bring this issue up for a vote BEFORE the election instead of being scared about what the Repukes might say or run on!

Note to Democrats: if you are fearful of losing, or expected to lose anyway, why not do the right thing on the way out? Who knows? You may have a fighting chance when people observe that you stand on principle, especially if that principle is overwhelmingly popular with the American people!!!

I just don't understand it.